Stretcher supporting frame



March 10, 1942. s. w. LATIMER 2,276,236

STRETCHER SUPPORTING FRAME Filed Aprii 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l March10, 1942. a. w. LATIMER 76,236

STRETCHER SUPPORTING FRAME Filed April 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMar. 10, 1942 STRETCHEB Foster Bros. Mfg.

2,276,236 i surroarmo FRAME I George'W.-Latimer, Baltimore,Md.,-assignor to Company, Inc., Baltimore,

-Md.,' a corporation of Maryland Application April 5, 1941, Serial No.387,083

3 Claims. (Cl. 5 207) This invention relates to frames for supportingstretchers and the like, and more particularly to portable knock-downframes for this purpose.

In the case of serious disasters or emergencies, it is frequently foundthat the number of regularly equipped ambulances available is entirelyinsufiicient to handle the number of people requiring medical attention.

The general object of the presentinvention, therefore, is to provide astretcher supporting frame of such a character that it may be placed inany ordinary truck or delivery wagon, which thus may be used totransport the sick or injured, in place of a regularly equippedambulance.

To this end the invention contemplates the provision of a portableknock-down frame which may be stored in relatively small space and whichmay be quickly assembled and set up without the use of tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a frame which isadjustable in width, so that it is adapted to fit within truck bodies ofdifferent widths.

With the above and other objects in view, and to improve generally uponthe details of such apparatus, the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and. in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of my improved frame or support as it appears whenin use, the stretcher being illustrated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section substantially on the line 22of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section on an enlarged scale, throughone of the supporting posts, substantially at the point indicated by theline 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar section, substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;and

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of my improved supporting frameshowing the parts disconnected for the purpose of storage.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved support comprises apair of end frames, each made up of a pair of vertical posts I, 2,having horizontal arms 3, 4, extending laterally from their upper endsand rigidly secured thereto as by means of diagonal braces 5, riveted orwelded to the parts.

It will thus be noted that each end frame ,consists of a pair ofinverted L-shaped members which, when assembled, form an inverted U-shaped structure.

The arms 3, which are attached to the posts I, are tubular, and of suchsize as to receive the arms 4, in telescoping relation, as bestillustrated in Fig. l. The arms 4 may thus be inserted into the tubulararms 3 to any desired extent, so as to produce an end frame of anydesired width. The arms 3 and '4 are clamped in adjusted positionbymeans of thumb screws 6, carried by the arms 3,as shown.

The above described end frames are united at each side by apair ofreadily detachable side rails 1 and 8. The rails are preferably tubularand have their ends pressed together or flattened as indicated at la,and the flattened portions bent into arcuate form as indicated at 1b.These arcuate portions are provided with bolt holes 1c adapted to slipover bolts 3, fixedly carried by the post I or 2, and thumb nutsIll-engage the ends of these bolts in order to secure the rails firmlyin position.

The other side rails 8 are likewise preferably of tubular form and areprovided at each end with a relatively wide fiat portion or plate I I.Fixed to and projecting from one side of each of these plates is a pairof headed studs or fastening devices I2, spaced a substantial distanceapart vertically. Secured to each post, as by welding, is an anglebracket I3, having formed therein a pair of open ended notches l4,adapted to receive the studs I2. It will thus be seen that when thesestuds are inserted in the ends of the notches and then moved downwardlyuntil they seat at the bottom of the notches, they will rigidly lock theend frames together. This rigidity is largely due to the fact that thestuds or fastening devices I2 distance apart vertically.

Thus the end frames are firmly united by the side rails 8, disposed nearthe bottom, and are further braced by the side rails I located near thetop of the frames, thus producing a structure which is exceptionallyrigid and strong.

Secured to the inner side of each post I and 2, as by welding, is a pairof hooks I 5 and the stretcher. The other side bars of the stretcher aresupported by means of straps l1, having bar receiving loops I8 at theirlower ends and secured at their upper ends to and suspended are spaced asubstantial I6 adapted to support the ends of one of the side bars of isprovided with a pair of supporting feet gr. By reference to Fig. 1, itwill be seen that the upper stretchers A and B have one side barsupported in the hooks I5, l6, and the other side bar supported in theloops l8 carried by the straps H.

The lower stretchers C and D are supported at their innerside by thefeet g, resting on the floor or ground, while the bars at their outersides engage the lower hooks l5 and I6 and are thus securely held inposition.

While I have shown a single strap ll, having a pair of loops 18 at itslower end, it will, of

course, be understood that a pair of straps, eachhaving a single loop,and each supported by a separate ring l9, can be employed instead, ifdesired.

While I have described my improved frame as being adapted for mountingin a truck body or the like, it will, of course, be understood that itmay be set up on the floor of a building or on the ground, if desired.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be observed that my improved supportingframe is made up of eight separable pieces, namely, four side rails andfour inverted, L-shaped end members, and it will be seen that theseparts may be readily and compactly stored, so that a large number can beaccommodated in a relatively small space.

What I claim is: l

l. A portable, knock-down stretcher support comprising a pair ofvertical end frames each formed of a pair of separable inverted L-shapedmembers, and means for rigidly securing said members together, meanscarried by said end frames for supporting a plurality of stretchers, anda pa r parallel, horiz nt l side rails connecting said end frames ateach side said side rails constituting the sole connection between saidend frames and being readily detachable therefrom, one of each pair ofsaid side rails being secured to each end frame by interengagingfastening means spaced a substantial distance apart vertically, so as toimpart rigidity to the assembled structure.

2. A portable, knock-down stretcher support comprising a pair ofvertical end frames each formed of a pair of separable inverted L-shapedmembers, the arms of the L-shaped members being horizontal andconstructed to telescopically interengage for rigidly securing saidmembers together, means carried by said end frames for supporting aplurality of stretchers, said means including a hook carried by eachpost of each end frame and a pair of loops suspended from the horizontalportion of each end frame, and a pair of vertically spaced, parallel,horizontal side rails connecting said end frames at each side, said siderails constituting the sole connection between said end frames and.being readily detachable therefrom, whereby the entire structure may beseparated, for purposes of compact stora e, into four similar L-shapedmembers and four side. rails.

3. A portable, knock-down stretcher support comprising a pair of endframes, each end frame consisting of a pair of separable inverted Lshaped members made up, of a post and an arm, the arms of said membersbeing telescopically connected together to constitute a rigid invertedU-shaped structure, an upwardly opening hook fixed directly to theinside of a post, of each frame and adapted to support one bar of astretcher, flexible means depending from the horizontal portion of eachrigid U-shaped structure for supporting the other bar of a stretcher,and a pair of: ert a ly spaced, paralle horiz tal sid rai s conn tinsaid end f am s on. a h side and d tacha ly se ured. to sa d p sts, ne.f said rails being located well above said hooks, adjacent the top ofsaid posts, and the other being located at a point below said hooks.

GEORGE W. LA IMER.

